The Skeptic Podcast

Episode #065

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On this episode: * The American Culture War: Coming to a politics near you by Aaron Rabinowitz, from June 2021 * Time to ‘drop the crop’ - why cutting off the tips of dogs' ears is never right by Robyn Lowe, from March 2023 * Spontaneous Human Combustion: The truth behind the myth of Mary Carpenter by Matt Mills, from May 2021 Find more from The Skeptic at skeptic.org.uk [https://skeptic.org.uk/], or to support the show, take out a small voluntary donation at patreon.com/theskeptic [https://patreon.com/theskeptic]

Episode #064

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On this episode: * As a teacher, I wish I'd handled the conspiracy theorist in my class differently by Brian Montgomery, from March 2023 * Closed coffins and open coffers: the costs of Singaporean Chinese funeral practices by Ang Kai Randall, from July 2023 * In an increasingly secular America, religious conservatives exert power via the culture wars by Aaron Rabinowitz, from March 2022 * A Swift conspiracy: why almost all major celebrities get accused of being in the Illuminati by Dave Hahn, from November 2023 Find more from The Skeptic at skeptic.org.uk [https://skeptic.org.uk/], or to support the show, take out a small voluntary donation at patreon.com/theskeptic [https://patreon.com/theskeptic]

Episode #063

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On this episode: * Andrew Tate's misogynistic BRUV political party is a joke we should take seriously [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/02/andrew-tates-misogynistic-bruv-political-party-is-a-joke-we-should-take-seriously/] by Abi Kennedy from February 2025 * The Truth of Skinwalker Ranch… probably won’t shock you [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/04/the-truth-of-skinwalker-ranch-probably-wont-shock-you/] by Nick Garratt from April 2025 * Perspectives on Peer Review [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2020/11/four-perspectives-on-peer-review-why-it-goes-wrong-and-why-we-need-to-fix-it/] by Edzard Ernst from November 2020 * The Better Way conspiracy conference went all-in on the moral panic around trans people [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2023/08/the-better-way-conspiracy-conference-went-all-in-on-the-moral-panic-around-trans-people/] by Aaron Rabinowitz from August 2023 Find more from The Skeptic at skeptic.org.uk [https://skeptic.org.uk/], or to support the show, take out a small voluntary donation at patreon.com/theskeptic [https://patreon.com/theskeptic]

Episode #062

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On this episode: * The Tartarian Conspiracy: a silly pseudo-archaeology for our serious times [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/04/the-tartarian-conspiracy-a-silly-pseudo-archaeology-for-our-serious-times/] by Dave Hahn from April 2025 * In the face of AI-driven encyclopedia, cherish Wikipedia - and original sources [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/12/in-the-face-of-ai-driven-encyclopedias-cherish-wikipedia-and-original-sources/] by Hayley Stevens from December 2025 * Lytham's 'Beast of Green Drive': The Monster that almost certainly wasn’t [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2022/10/lythams-beast-of-green-drive-the-monster-that-almost-certainly-wasnt/] by Andy Owens from October 2022 * Understanding the origins of the 15-Minute City panic takes just 30 minutes [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/02/understanding-the-origins-of-the-15-minute-city-panic-takes-just-30-minutes/] by Tim Jokl from February 2025 Find more from The Skeptic at skeptic.org.uk [https://skeptic.org.uk/], or to support the show, take out a small voluntary donation at patreon.com/theskeptic [https://patreon.com/theskeptic]

Episode #061

From the pages of The Skeptic magazine, this is The Skeptic podcast, bringing you the best of the magazine’s expert analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal since its relaunch as online news source in September 2020. On this episode: * Attempts to "bring back" the woolly mammoth distract us from vital conservationist goals [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2021/11/attempts-to-bring-back-the-woolly-mammoth-distract-us-from-vital-conservationist-goals/] by Sarah Hearne from November 2021 * The anti-fluoridation movement is born of public health mistrust and misinformation [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/01/the-anti-fluoridation-movement-is-born-of-public-health-mistrust-and-misinformation/] by Elissar Gerges from January 2025 * Auriculotherapy: why poking needles into your earlobe is, essentially, pointless [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2023/12/auriculotherapy-why-poking-needles-into-your-earlobe-is-essentially-pointless/] by Edzard Ernst from December 2023 * Patients with Alzheimer's deserve care and dignity - not false hope of miracle cures [https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2025/01/people-with-alzheimers-deserve-care-and-dignity-not-false-hope-of-miracle-cures/] by Lena Bohman from January 2025 Find more from The Skeptic at skeptic.org.uk [https://skeptic.org.uk/], or to support the show, take out a small voluntary donation at patreon.com/theskeptic [https://patreon.com/theskeptic]